Cleaning device



o o 0 0 '0 o 0 I5 /9 p o o o o Q March 18, 194-]. l, KKNG 2,235,581

CLEANING DEVICE Filed July 13, 1939 Hull 3% aam Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This relates to an improved cleaning device invention in the form of a broom having a cleaning element made of rubber and adapted for use for dusting, cleaning of walls, floors, rugs, furni- 5 ture, the interior of automobiles, for sweeping floors, pavements, and especially for use in hospitals where a minimum amount of dust raised is paramount.

More particularly, it is an aim of this invention to provide an improved cleaning device adapted for use as a broom, whiskbroom or duster and formed of a flexible material such as rubber which may be easily cleaned or washed and from which lint and dust may be much more readily removed than from material such as broom straw, hair bristles, cotton, wool, etc.

Still a further aim of the invention is to provide an improved construction of frame or head particularly designed and adapted for support- 20 ing the cleaning element.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a cleaning device of the class described which can be very economically manufactured in any desired size and which will be light in weight yet strong and durable.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the same,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the strip from which the cleaning element is formed, and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the different views, I designates generally the broom or cleaning device comprising the invention which includes a head or frame II, a cleaning element I2, and a handle I3.

Head II comprises a rod I4, which is bent to 45 form a helix, all the convolutions of which are substantially in a plane. A socket I5 is formed integral with, or suitably secured to, the outer end of the rod I4, and is disposed at an oblique angle thereto. Socket I5 preferably tapers toward its secured end to receive the tapered end of the handle I3, which is secured therein as by means of the fastenings IS.

The cleaning element I2, as best seen in Figure 3, comprises a strip of of flexible material such 55 as rubber which is cut transversely from its 1ongitudinal edges to form the longitudinal rows of narrow strips H. The body portion or central strip I8 of the cleaning element I2 is provided with two corresponding rows of openings I9 which are spaced substantially an equal distance from the center of the strip I8. Cleaning element I2 is adapted to be folded lengthwise so that the corresponding openings I9 of the two rows will be in alinement and adjacent one longitudinal edge of the element I2, as seen in Figure 4, which constitutes its top edge. The rod I4 is adapted to be threaded through the alined openings of the rows IQ of the element l2 beginning from its free end to form a plurality of undulating convolutions ZI. End 20 and the complementary end of the cleaning element I2 are connected by means of a wire or cord 22 to retain the cleaning element I2 on the frame II with its opposite end in engagement with the socket I5. The strips I! depend downwardly from the frame II to form the tines of the broom III.

Cleaning element I2 may be formed from a portion of an automobile tire inner tube which is split longitudinally after which it may be readily stamped or cut to provide the strips I1 and rows of openings IS. The length, width and thickness of the rod I4 and cleaning element I2 may obviously vary depending upon the type of work for which the broom or cleaner is intended and the handle I3 may be made short where the brush I0 is to be used as a whiskbroom or duster or relatively long where the cleaning device I0 is to be used as a broom for sweeping.

A further description of the operation of the device is deemed unnecessary.

Various changes are contemplated and may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a broom, a cleaning element comprising a strip of sheet rubber having its longitudinal edges formed of a plurality of narrow transversely disposed strips, the intermediate portion of said strip being provided with two spaced rows of corresponding openings, said strip being folded lengthwise to aline corresponding openings of said rows, and said openings being threaded on a helix supporting frame.

2. A broom or cleaner comprising a head in the form of a rod, said rod being of helical form having substantially concentric convolutions and being provided with a socket at the outer end thereof for connecting with a handle; and a cleaning element comprising a strip of rubber cut transversely along its longitudinal edges to provide rows of narrow strips, the intermediate portion of said strip having two spaced corresponding rows of openings, said strip being folded lengthwise to aline the corresponding openings of said rows, and said rod being threaded through said openings for mounting the cleaning element on the head.

THOMAS I. KING. 

